Actually, I have a question for the officials. I just wanted to lead in by saying that it has been an interesting discussion and a lot of things have been said. There has been a lot of debate about this particular clause as it relates to the TPMs.
I would just remind the committee that we did hear from several voices expressing that the provision of TPMs will actually allow for more content, more services to be available in more innovative ways. There were several voices that made reference to this over the course of the committee hearings. We heard from one a couple of weeks ago. I'll quote him; he said:
We often hear these technologies being referred to as “digital locks”, but I think that's a total misnomer; we should not think of TPMs as restrictions somehow meant to frustrate consumers but as an essential element of a thriving digital media marketplace. If there's one thing I'd like to accomplish in front of the committee today, it's to get rid of that “digital locks” label and to turn the focus back on what these technologies are and how Canadian copyright should protect them so that we can sustain a vibrant Canadian creative marketplace.
This is an issue where there are voices that have strong positions on both sides. As a committee, we have to make a determination as to the best course of action here.
With the short time I have on this, I do want to go to the officials. The government has the ability to provide new exceptions to TPM provisions through regulation. I know that was one component within the bill. I thought that it might be a good time now, even though that comes in later clauses, to just elaborate on them as they relate to the particular clause we're on.